Carbamazepine enhances brain production of kynurenic acid in vitro

Abstract

Disturbed formation of kynurenic acid, an endogenous antagonist of glutamate ionotropic receptors, might contribute to the pathogenesis of seizures. Here, the effect of anticonvulsant drug, carbamazepine on the production of kynurenic acid was studied. Carbamazepine (0.5-3 mM) enhanced kynurenic acid synthesis in rat cortical slices and also increased the activity of kynurenine aminotransferase (KAT) I at 0.1-3.0 mM concentration. Thus, anticonvulsant drugs, such as carbamazepine, might act partially via stimulation of kynurenic acid production.